Integration gateway

Abstract

A message oriented middleware server application executable by at least one processor implements a message oriented middleware message provider that mediates messaging operations with a plurality of heterogeneous applications including a number of casino gaming applications, where instances of the heterogeneous applications which execute on the plurality of networked processor-based client devices including the networked processor-based casino gaming devices.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A networked server system for use in mediating electronic message communication among heterogeneous client devices in a casino gaming environment, the networked server system comprising:
 an integration gateway server, selectively communicatively coupled by a network to one or more client devices, the integration gateway server programmed to execute instructions that permit communication therebetween, according to a selected one of a plurality of messaging models,   wherein, when an asynchronous point-to-point messaging model is active,
 the integration gateway server computer queues an electronic message from a message producing client device, and 
 delivers the queued electronic message to a designated message consuming receiver client device; and 
 when an asynchronous publish/subscribe messaging model is active, the integration gateway server computer gathers electronic messages at a topic destination, and 
 distributes the electronic messages gathered at the topic destination to a plurality of message consuming subscriber client devices. 
   
     
     
         31 . The networked server system of  claim 30 , further comprising the one or more message producing client devices. 
     
     
         32 . The networked server system of  claim 30 , further comprising the one or more message consuming subscriber client devices. 
     
     
         33 . The networked server system of  claim 30  wherein the integration gateway server distributes the electronic messages to a particular message destination specified in a message header. 
     
     
         34 . The networked server system of  claim 30  wherein the integration gateway server delivers the queued electronic message to a particular message destination specified in a message header. 
     
     
         35 . The networked server system of  claim 30  wherein the integration gateway server is further programmed to execute instructions that:
 receive platform-specific data from one or more message producing client devices; 
 store the platform-specific data in a message destination; 
 transform the platform-specific data; 
 re-format the platform-specific data; and 
 deliver the transformed, re-formatted data to a message consuming client device. 
 
     
     
         36 . The networked server system of  claim 30 , further comprising a transceiver that provides wireless communication. 
     
     
         37 . The networked server system of  claim 30  wherein the client devices are casino gaming machines. 
     
     
         38 . A method of mediating electronic messages between heterogeneous client devices in a casino gaming environment by an integration gateway server computer, the method comprising:
 when an asynchronous point-to-point messaging model is active,
 queuing an electronic message from a message producing sender client device; and 
 delivering the electronic message held in the queue to a designated message consuming receiver client device; and 
   when an asynchronous publish/subscribe messaging model is active,
 gathering electronic messages at a topic destination; and 
 distributing the electronic messages at the topic destination to a plurality of message consuming subscriber client devices. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising mediating electronic messages in accordance with a synchronous request/response messaging model. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the queuing the electronic message includes holding the message when the receiver client device is inactive. 
     
     
         41 . An integration gateway server communicatively coupled to one or more processor-based casino gaming devices, the integration gateway server comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon that cause the processor to:
 log electronic messages having different, platform-specific formats; 
 perform one or more data transformations that re-format the electronic messages to allow cross-platform communication among the casino gaming devices; and 
 implement communication services using acknowledgement protocols to ensure message integrity. 
   
     
     
         42 . The integration gateway server of  claim 41  wherein the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium stores a database. 
     
     
         43 . The integration gateway server of  claim 41  wherein the instructions further cause the processor to provide local configuration cache services. 
     
     
         44 . The integration gateway server of  claim 41  wherein the communication services are implemented in accordance with a System to System (S2S) gaming industry acknowledgement protocol to enable communication among heterogeneous casino gaming devices. 
     
     
         45 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to a processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to implement an integration gateway that:
 provides a stand-alone user interface for setup and maintenance of the casino gaming machines.   establishes cross-platform communication among heterogeneous casino gaming machines according to synchronous and asynchronous messaging models;   performs data transformations to manipulate and re-format platform-specific message data according to a synchronous messaging model; and   performs data transformations to manipulate and re-format platform specific message data according to an asynchronous messaging model.   
     
     
         46 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 45  wherein the messaging models supported by the integration gateway include one or more of a publish/subscribe messaging model, a point-to-point messaging model, and a request-reply messaging model. 
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 45  wherein the heterogeneous casino gaming machines include legacy systems and newer products based on evolving technologies. 
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 45  wherein messaging functions provided by the integration gateway include one or more of guaranteed message delivery, fast message delivery, receipt notification, transaction control, or a data persistence mechanism. 
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 45  wherein the instructions stored thereon further include shared functions and interceptor services. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 48  wherein the messaging functions utilize objects including one or more of connection factories, connections, sessions, producers, consumers, messages, or destinations.